Anyone using PI PrimeFilm 7200?

[Colin G.]

I'm searching for a good dedicated 35mm film scanner that will provide quality scans for online and the occasional print of up to 8x10 and possibly a size larger. I've read up on the Pacific Film scanners and the banding issue kind of puts me off. However, I primarily shoot B&W and the issue appears to happen more on dense slides. This scanner seems to be the only current dedicated film scanner in my budget ($250 CAD), which ultimately ends my search, but I'd like to hear some opinions on its quality and reliability. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ken Ford]

Interested in what people have to say. I would shoot much more film if I had a decent film scanner. I was given a Nikon last year, but I need to set up a PC with the special I/O card (SCSI, I think) to even test it. A USB one that would give me web quality scans would suffice the majority of the time.

 

[Addy101]

Primefilm scanners are known as Reflecta scanners in Europe. Reflecta scanners are quite good, at least according to the only guy who tests scanners regularly. I guess that Primefilm 7200 is the same as the Crystalscan 7200, he tested that one here: Reflecta Crystalscan 7200 test.

The answer to your question is "yes". Even the better flatbed scanners are good enough for websized pictures. 8x10, had to look that up, is 20x25 (so, almost A4: 29.7x21). Most flatbeds will be struggling at that size, a dedicated scanner will do and that Primefilm will IMHO do for that.
Do you scan B&W or colour negatives? If the latter, software is really important (with B&W it is "just" convenient). Look at Silverfast and Vuescan.

Finally, this thread might be helpful.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is one of the three scanners I have. Purchased it from BH, free delivery to Ontario. It was on sale, almost 100 USD. And this is what it is worth of. Worked good for scans of old color negatives. This is why I was purchasing it. It was masking negatives damages very well and it was also doing scan relatively fast.
But for bw it is bad. Their own software is garbage, with Vuescan bw comes sharp, but the rest is just not right. Nowhere near Plustek 7200 and Epson V500, where it is less sharp, but correct tones and else.
PrimeFilm 7200 is also prone to vertical digital noise on color negatives. It will come up on dark part, on the blue sky or just after scanning of the first roll and doing the second one.
And it is not capable of scanning not perfectly exposed, developed negatives. While Epson V500 would scan bw negatives where it is hard to find almost anything with naked eye.


To OP. I have printed bw on 8x10 and next larger size from V500 scans. If it is not for very close view, but for a wall, prints are fine. New Epson flatbeds are available for 250 CAD in Canada. https://www.vistek.ca/store/ProPhotoScanners/271647/epson-perfection-v550-photo-scanner.aspx
Depends where you are, but in GTA, on Kjijj good deals comes. I have like new 7200 for 30 CAD. I recommend to search for used Plustek, should be no problem to find under 250 CAD.

 

[Colin G.]

Addy101 - I would primarily be scanning B&W and occasionally colour neg or slide.

Ko.Fe. - I was thinking of a flatbed Epson before too and just use it to scan for online and if I wanted a print done just take the negative over to my local shop. But having a dedicated scanner would give me more control over what would be printed. So the PI 7200 is more than capable with the right software, which seems to be Addy101's opinion as well. I live in the GTA (Hamilton). There's a Plustek 7600 SE for sale on kijiji, also a Minolata Dual Scan III which also seems like a good scanner but a dinosaur.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have VueScan which is one of the two most effective applications for scanners. PI 7200 is just not good even with it. If you still think it is your scanner, I'm close by in Milton, I'll sell it for you for 100CAD, boxed. But, honestly, if you have clean negatives, go for 7600 SE.

 

[gnome chompski]

Ive got the Prime Film XE. Great scanner but you cannot scan the entire frame. I have to crop the sides a bit because the film holder reflects back onto the negative and shows up in the scan. At least thats what I think the issue is. Their customer service was about as useless as it gets to help resolve this. This irritates me, but whatever. The quality of the image is fantastic, I use it with Vuescan. It came with Silverfast 8, but a basic version that is not very good. I never bothered with Cyberscan or whatever their own software is.

 

[Colin G.]

Ko.Fe. - Thanks for the offer, I'll keep it mind. I'm not in a rush to get a scanner so I'll wait and see what pops up on kijiji. I may also send the 7600 an offer.

gnome - I would find it unacceptable to crop each and every negative, especially if it affected my composition. I think it's also unacceptable that they have been useless in addressing the issue...which kind of puts me off from getting one of their scanners new -- I would want some assurance of service. Other than the cropping, have you had any banding issues?

 

[gnome chompski]

No banding issues whatsoever. And yea I'm frustrated about the crop but it's really only like .5mm in real world measurements. Maybe I've convinced myself that it's not a big deal now, but I was certainly irritated in the beginning.
If you want an example, I started a thread about this issue and documented the result.
That said, I'm very pleased with the image scan quality and speed. Matched with vuescan it's been a good workflow.